An observational study in Knee Osteoarthritis and Chronic Knee Pain, sponsored by Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 45 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-14.
Sponsored by Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital · Observational
This observational cohort study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of adding ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis to conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency treatment in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis.
Adult patients aged 45-80 years with clinically and radiologically confirmed knee osteoarthritis and chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months despite conservative treatment will be included. Patients will be followed according to routine clinical practice. Two cohorts will be evaluated: patients treated with conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency alone and patients treated with conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency plus pulsed radiofrequency of the distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis.
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, and functional status will be evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Assessments will be performed before the procedure, at 1 month, and at 3 months after treatment. Adverse events recorded in patient files will also be evaluated.
Chronic knee pain related to knee osteoarthritis is mediated by a complex sensory innervation network. Although genicular nerves are commonly targeted in radiofrequency procedures for knee osteoarthritis pain, recent anatomical and ultrasound-based studies suggest that additional sensory branches may contribute to medial knee joint pain. The distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis have been described as contributors to the sensory innervation of the medial knee joint capsule.
In routine clinical practice, patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis may undergo ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment of the genicular nerves. In some patients, pulsed radiofrequency treatment targeting the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis may also be added. This study will compare clinical outcomes between these two routinely treated cohorts.
The study will include adult patients aged 45-80 years with knee osteoarthritis confirmed clinically and radiologically, Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-IV, chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months, and insufficient response to conservative treatments. The primary outcome will be the change in pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale from baseline to follow-up. Functional outcomes will be assessed using the WOMAC score. Evaluations will be performed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure. Safety outcomes will include procedure-related adverse events such as hematoma, infection, increased neuropathic pain, or transient motor impairment.
No additional intervention will be performed for research purposes, and treatment allocation will not be determined by the investigators.
3,292 studies on the registry are indexed under Osteoarthritis, Knee; 623 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 66 is below the median of 100 across 486 observational studies indexed under Osteoarthritis, Knee.
Browse Osteoarthritis, Knee studies →Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital is the lead sponsor of 106 studies on the registry; 13 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study population will consist of adult patients aged 45 to 80 years with clinically and radiologically confirmed knee osteoarthritis and chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months despite conservative treatment. Eligible patients will be those who are evaluated in the Algology Clinic and undergo ultrasound-guided genicular nerve radiofrequency treatment, with or without additional pulsed radiofrequency treatment targeting the distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis, as part of routine clinical practice. Patients will be included after providing written informed consent and will be followed for pain and functional outcomes at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Age between 45 and 80 years Clinical and radiological diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-IV knee osteoarthritis Chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months Insufficient response to conservative treatments such as NSAIDs, physical therapy, or exercise programs Baseline Visual Analog Scale pain score ≥5 No coagulation disorder or active infection that would contraindicate the procedure Written provided by the participant
Exclusion Criteria:
Knee pain primarily caused by conditions other than osteoarthritis, including inflammatory arthritis, septic arthritis, tumor-related causes, or infectious causes Previous total knee arthroplasty or knee prosthesis surgery in the affected knee Radiofrequency or neurolytic procedure around the affected knee within the last 6 months Severe knee instability, advanced deformity, or history of acute trauma Active infection, skin lesion, or ulceration at the procedure site Uncontrolled systemic disease such as advanced heart failure or uncontrolled diabetes Bleeding diathesis or inability to discontinue anticoagulant therapy for an appropriate duration Pregnancy or lactation Cognitive impairment, inability to cooperate, or inability to comply with follow-up visits
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis who received ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves as part of routine clinical practice.
Procedure: Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency
Patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis who received ultrasound-guided conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency treatment plus pulsed radiofrequency treatment targeting the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nervus vastus medialis as part of routine clinical practice.
Procedure: Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency · Procedure: Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Plus Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Distal Sensory Branches of the Nerve to Vastus Medialis
Ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves will be performed as part of routine clinical practice in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis. Pain and functional outcomes will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale and WOMAC scores at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.
Also known as: Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation
Ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves will be combined with pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis. This combined approach will be performed as part of routine clinical practice in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis. Pain intensity and functional status will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale and WOMAC scores at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.
Also known as: Genicular nerve RF plus nerve to vastus medialis PRF
Change in Visual Analog Scale Pain Score
Change in knee pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale. The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more severe pain.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure
Change in WOMAC Score
Change in knee osteoarthritis-related pain, stiffness, and physical function assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms and functional impairment.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure
Plan to share: No
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital →